Madison times., 1887-03-26


these pictures of tho old German story
my husband bought them at once.
One Of the ornaments of the writing
table is a pretty silver well. which wa
presented Mrs. Wilcox at the time he
volume Of temperance poems was pub
lshed under the title of drops O
Water"
When the Poems OF Passion" wer,
published she was given a reception a
the Academy of Music in Milwaukee,
and $500 was presented to her by hel
many admirers. The money was giver
in pretty Limoges vase that forms III
ornament of the room.
One of the oldest adornments of the
room was poem By Mrs. Wilcox
printed on white satin, in the fac-siml,
of her writing; the poem was writer
on the birthday OF a lady eighty-sever
years of age. So pleased was thi;
elderly lady at the poem and occasion
OF its being written that she had il
printed upon satin and given to Mrs
Wilcox rs souvenir. Mrs. Wilco,
prizes it very much. In her own room
she has Il wonderful silk patchwork
coverIid. containing pieces of all the
dresses she ever had, while the centre
square is fac-simile of the cover oi
her Poems OF Passion" other pieces
are of old silk boOkmarks. which she
collected as child. They were great
treasures to her then and each brings .
remembrance OF childish pride OF dutS
done.
Mrs. Wilcox does most OF her writin.
on the impulse; she has no stated
hours. One of the sweetest poems she
ever wrote was composed after II y,
night, when she sat alone in her apart.
ment and her muse came to her. Some
times. however. it is a difficult tasks.
When her charming poem which III:
World published Oh the Barthodi
statute was to be written she gave up
several times in despair, saying she
was not in the mood, but her husband
urged her TO continue, giving me
many OF the ideas, too" said Mrs. vii.
cox. 'Oh. he often is such an assist
ance to me. and really has the mos,
poetical thoughts. only he is unable to
put them into rhyme" she continued.
"He really ins 'sted on my remaining a,
the table till the poem was finished -
she said laughingly. Ella Wheeler
was most fortunate in her choice of .
husband. He is q successful man,
much engroSsed in his business. aud
one who knew him but little would not
accredit him with being of SD much
help to his wife in her literary pursuits.
but Mr.. Wilcox is greatly interested in
her writing.
Their marriage was peculiar, in the
fact that their courtship was almost
entirely By letter and the engagement
was after only their third meeting,
although the acquaintance had extended
over a considerable length of time.
Mr.. Wilcox first saw his wife on the
street while he was walking with a
friend. Ella Wheeler bowed to his
companion and Mr.. Wilcox Immediate
ly asked him who the lady was.
She wears peculiar bracelet. which
commentaries the different epochs of
their friendship Ii is of gold, with
bangle ornaments. The first IS gold
horseshoe, set with turquoise. bearing
the date of the first time Mr.. Wilcox
saw her. Next comes gold PLAGUE,
with a ruby set in the center, with the
date of the beginning of the CORE.
spondence. A shell set with diamond
bears the date of Introduction. A gold
medallion is dated with the engage
ment, while an old Roman gold stan
typifies Il ''star week of happine IS" to
use Mrs. Wilcox's words. The last
ornament is very beautiful. Il is 9
crown of diamonds and an anchor OF
rubies twisted together. forming the
wedding bangle.
saw before the writing-table in the
study small. low rocEing-chair which
Mrs, Wilcox astonished me by saying
she sat in while writing. This is in
deed new use for the rocker, that
strictly feminine ar ticle Of luxury.
when did you first begin to write?"
asked. "Oh," my hostess replied.
when child; look at this" and |
beheld tiny book made of pieces OF
wallpaper, while one side of each leaf
was covered with childish printed let.
tiers. Il printed that before / was old
enough TO learn to write. / was a
very small child. used to sit on nv
mothers lap while she read to me the
poems and stories that gave me my
first love OF writing" How Mrs. Viii.
cox sent her poems both East and
West. anywhere TO have them publish.
ed. without remuneration /; how she
gradually heard them spoken OF,
quoted. and felt that they had made for
her a reputation; how she finally re-
ceived check for her work; how bel
income began to increase from these
writings. are now wei! known By all
the lovers of her poems. Il think ]
gave more really arduous labor to nv
novel "Mal-Monlee' than anything